The Good OIl
The Good OIl
Podcast Description
Political and news commentary with a New Zealand flavour hosted by New Zealand's multi award-winning number podcaster and blogger. Cam Slater doesn’t do quiet and, as a result, he is a polarising, controversial but highly effective journalist who takes no prisoners. Love him or loathe him, you can’t ignore him.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of political commentary, news analysis, and cultural discussions, with episodes featuring a range of topics such as New Zealand politics, cultural wars, and global issues. For example, Episode 2 highlights Maurice Williamson's views on local politics and culture, while Episode 1 features a lengthy dialogue with Winston Peters covering diverse subjects.
Political and news commentary with a New Zealand flavour hosted by New Zealand’s multi award-winning number podcaster and blogger. Cam Slater doesn’t do quiet and, as a result, he is a polarising, controversial but highly effective journalist who takes no prisoners. Love him or loathe him, you can’t ignore him.
Welcome to Episode 36 of The Good Oil Podcast. Cam Slater sits down with Alon Roth, Israel’s Ambassador to New Zealand, for a candid and insightful conversation.
Born in Haifa in 1961, Ambassador Roth shares his journey from engineering studies and IDF service to a 40-year diplomatic career spanning Cameroon, the European Union, Jordan, London, Norway, Iceland, and now New Zealand.
The discussion covers the transformative Abraham Accords, the psychological toll of decades of rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, the barbarity of the October 7 massacre, and the failure of much of the Western media — including in New Zealand — to present the full picture. Roth addresses double standards, antisemitism, and the resilience of Israeli society.
They also explore Israel’s extraordinary innovation in water management, agriculture, health tech, and high-tech, and the potential for deeper cooperation with New Zealand and Pacific nations like Fiji through knowledge-sharing rather than aid dependency.
A must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Israel, the Middle East, and why a positive agenda of cooperation offers the best path forward.
- 00:00 – Cigar review: Leaf by Oscar Valladares 10th Anniversary Crayola Toro
- 01:12 – Welcome and introduction of Ambassador Alon Roth
- 02:17 – Roth’s background: Born Haifa 1961, family, moving around Israel, IDF infantry officer
- 04:46 – Entering the Foreign Ministry in 1986/87
- 05:13 – Postings: Cameroon (most meaningful – aid & cooperation), EU/Brussels/Strasbourg, Jordan (peace experience), London, Norway/Iceland, now NZ (first Pacific posting)
- 09:07 – Impressions of New Zealand after 18 months
- 10:44 – Retirement plans and family
- 11:55 – Abraham Accords, direct flights, new Middle East cooperation (trend vs point)
- 16:10 – Hamas miscalculation on Oct 7; Abraham Accords held
- 19:30 – Living under rocket fire for 20 years; Iron Dome; sheltered rooms
- 23:13 – Psychological burden on Israelis, personal stories as a father
- 26:26 – Kibbutz residents who helped Gazans but were massacred/kidnapped on Oct 7
- 29:57 – No Gazans helped hostages; comparison to WWII resistance
- 32:16 – Denials of atrocities; Hamas bodycam footage; double standards
- 36:24 – Media bias in NZ; disregarding Israeli evidence
- 41:58 – Antisemitism, Christchurch Call hypocrisy (Israel excluded)
- 46:38 – Historical antisemitism and current trends
- 58:59 – UNRWA, incitement in textbooks
- 01:00:40 – Arab Israelis in society; no apartheid (judges, doctors, cafes in Jaffa)
- 01:07:46 – Israeli innovation (water recycling, drip irrigation, desalination, medical tech)
- 01:14:35 – Potential for NZ-Israel cooperation in tech & youth innovation
- 01:18:02 – Opportunities in the Pacific (Fiji embassy, water-from-air, expertise transfer)
- 01:27:05 – Fiji connection via peacekeeping and Christian affinity
- 01:35:44 – Diversity in Israeli society (Orthodox & gay beaches side-by-side, melting pot)
- 01:37:49 – Closing: Positive agenda of cooperation
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